I was listening to a recent episode of Glennon Doyle’s podcast, We Can Do Hard Things, with guest, Tracee Ellis Ross, who shared this advice, “Give yourself a thousand breaks and, after that, give yourself a thousand more.” She was speaking in regard to the tendency to beat yourself up after a big event. I should have said [fill in the blank] in the meeting. I shouldn’t have said [fill in the blank] on that podcast interview. I should of, I should of, I should of….

Oh how hard we are on ourselves. For most of us (narcissists aside) we are our biggest adversaries in life. The greatest punisher of our perceived wrongdoings. What if giving yourself a thousand breaks became your spiritual practice this year.

We are heading into the Year of the Water Rabbit on on January 21st - the start of the Chinese New Year. 2023 is also a 7-year in numerology. These clues indicate it will be a year to look inward for our best success.

That doesn’t mean it won’t be an action-packed year for the collective. The Rabbit is wily, quick, and fertile. The rabbit, perhaps the most docile of all the barnyard animals, has to rely on its quick wits and intuition to survive in the animal kingdom. When we lived in Joshua Tree, I was amazed by how the jackrabbits somehow endured among the coyotes and bobcats running wild and hungry.

When once offered a bite of rabbit at a five-star restaurant in New Orleans, I respectfully declined. Cuteness does rank high in my hierarchy of animals I’ll eat, but not so sure that’s the case in the high desert or in our dog-eaten world. Better to rely on your inner resources this year rather than external appearances. Out with flashy IG, in with everyday basics.

If you’ve been looking to re-commit to a spiritual practice, to make wellness a priority, to go back into therapy, or take an adventure that reignites your inner light, this year gives you the green light. In fact, it might be the secret to your survival success. Make this the year to give yourself a break, to soften, to live out a dream. Become your biggest fan rather than your hidden enemy. It’s from there your external light best shines.

Wishing you a healthy and prosperous 2023.

~Tisha